Who To Follow At Doncaster On Saturday - 01/04/23

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 30 Mar 2023 13.51

Doncaster 15:10

3(7)

Poker Face

J: James Doyle

T: Simon & Ed Crisford

N/A

Age: 4

Weight: 9-2

OR: 101

Days: 166

Another Listed race on the Doncaster card is the Doncaster Mile Stakes and Poker Face for Simon & Ed Crisford could be a class above this field.

The four year old has been seen three times to date and is currently unbeaten on all three of his starts, making his debut over a mile at Pontefract in September when winning well in a Maiden.

Sent into a Novice Stakes under a penalty he went on to beat a 4/5 favourite for John & Thady Gosden in convincing fashion at Newcastle on the all weather.

Landing the hat-trick in October back at Pontefract on handicap debut, he bolted up by close to nine lengths off a mark of 87.

Now on a rating of 101, he steps into Listed company and obviously still progressing he should take this race in his stride if handling the softer conditions.

Form: 111View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
27/08/23	DEA	8	Sft	9-0	1
30/07/23	PON	8	GS	9-7	1
07/07/23	SAN	10	Gd	9-9	2
20/06/23	ASC	10	Gd	9-5	14
12/05/23	CHS	10.5	Sft	9-3	4

Trainer Karl Burke will be looking to kick start the turf flat campaign in good style after a superb season last year and he fields some nice runners across the card on Saturday that could see him in the winners enclosure.

In the opener he gives a debut to the exciting Indication Call for owners Nick Bradley Racing with the juvenile having a nice sprinting pedigree.

In the Spring Mile Handicap although a 20/1 shot, Tothenines has been knocking on the door of late and he is weighted to go close in this one.

Burke is double handed in the Listed Cammidge Trophy with El Caballo and Fast Response both looking to go close acting on soft ground.

The trainer has one in the Lincoln with Eilean Dubh a smart horse last season, but he will need to improve off his seasonal debut run at Wolves, but could at the weights and at 40/1 he looks a big price.

Jim Crowley has been in superb form of late currently running at a strike rate of 50% over the last two weeks and also having a great record at Town Moor he is a man to follow on Saturday.

Doncaster has proven a happy hunting ground for the experienced rider in recent seasons, with his strike-rate at the track in the last five years sitting at 21%.

That figure improves to 30% when focusing on Crowley’s rides on horses aged four or older and a horse in that age bracket he rides on Saturday is Ehraz for Richard Hannon and Shadwell Estate, who is having his first run as a gelding.

One of Crowley's best rides of the afternoon comes in the Lincoln Handicap with Wanees looking to show he is better than a mark of 96.